Selector for edge notch coded sheet-type items

ABSTRACT

A selector for edge notch coded sheet-type items comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced pairs of plates movable oppositely into projected and retracted positions and, in projected position, cooperating to address a desired sheet-type item in a store presenting edge notches to the address plates. Magnet means, which may be rotatably mounted, cooperates with magnetic means on the coded edge of the items tending to draw the items forwardly from the store, with all but the addressed item prevented from moving forwardly by the engagement of its edge with the edge of a projected address plate. Solenoid operators and spring means cooperate in the opposite movements of the paired address plates of the selector, and the address plates have opposed racks engaged by pinions rotating on stationary axes for insuring simultaneous movement of the address plates in opposite directions. Locking means temporarily holds the address plates in their address positions.

United States Patent [72] lnventor James P. Hagan Tustin, Calif.

[21] Appl. No. 882,503

[22] Filed Dec. 5, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [7 3] Assignee Image Systems, Inc.

Culver City, Calif.

[54] SELECTOR FOR EDGE NOTCH CODED SHEET- 3,486,617 12/1969 Cross, Jr

ABSTRACT: A selector for edge notch coded sheet-type items comprising a plurality of parallel, spaced pairs of plates movable oppositely into projected and retracted positions and, in projected position, cooperating to address a desired sheet-type item in a store presenting edge notches to the address plates. Magnet means, which may be rotatably mounted, cooperates with magnetic means on the coded edge of the items tending to draw the items forwardly from the store, with all but the addressed item prevented from moving forwardly by the engagement of its edge with the edge of a projected address plate. Solenoid operators and spring means cooperate in the opposite movements of the paired address plates of the selector, and the address plates have opposed racks engaged by pinions rotating on stationary axes for insuring simultaneous movement of the address plates in opposite directions. Locking means temporarily holds the address plates in their address positions.

PATENTEHJMI 4m: 3.631.978

sum 2 OF 2 INVENTORv (14155 2 fiaaew WM a/nd M SELECTOR FOR EDGE NOTCH CODED SHEET-TYPE ITEMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Feb. 25, 1969, for RANDOM ACCESS STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL DEVICE. The sheet-type item of microfiche is more completely shown in the application of E. H. Irasek, et. al., Ser. No. 740,9l4, filed June 28, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,555,248, for SHEET-TYPE STORAGE ITEM AND CLIP. The aforesaid issued patent shows a rotary store in which sheet-type items having magnetic means at their edges are edge coded by means of notches in any desired code, such as standard binary, binary coded decimal, Grey binary, octal, and like codes, which permit each individual sheet to be addressed by its identifying number and retrieved from a random storage position. The selector of the patent employs address plates which are pivotally mounted and each rotatable into one of two alternate positions corresponding to binary and 1 numbers, and, by their position, addressing a unique sheet for withdrawal from the rotatable store by means of magnets eccentrically mounted relative thereto.

While the selector mechanism of the patent has proved operable and efficient in operation, it has been found that paired reciprocating address plates, projecting and retracting in opposite directions simultaneously, provide a more smoothly acting and reliable operation. This is combined with locking means for holding the address plates in address position and also providing for their simultaneous change to a new address. At the same time, a rotating magnet may be substituted for the eccentric magnets of the patent.

The selector mechanism of this invention may be used with sheet-type items disclosed in the patent, but is herein shown with a central extractor notch as disclosed in the aforesaid patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The selector mechanism of the present invention is associated with the edges of edge notch coded sheet-type items which are mounted in side-by-side relationship in a store for relative movement with respect to the selector. The selector comprises a plurality of pairs of parallel address plates which are moved in the planes of the plates, so as to project one and retract the other plate in each pair simultaneously. The forward edges of the address plates coact with the coded edges of the sheet-type items to maintain nonaddressed items within the store and to permit addressed items to move partly forwardly by the notches in the item edges embracing the appropriate address plates, thereby moving the uniquely addressed item out of the store a limited distance.

The edge of the sheet-type item is provided with magnetic means which may, by way of example only, be a longitudinally extending clip of magnetic material which is U-shaped and embraces the edge of the item. The coding notches may also be in this U-shaped clip. Generally centrally of the item, the edge clip may be provided with a T-shaped slot which is adapted to receive an extractor, either adjacent the selector mechanism, or at a delivery station, or both.

Each pair of address plates is acted upon by biasing means and a solenoid actuator which cooperates to move the address plates in opposite directions, that is, the biasing means projects one address plate and retracts the other, and the solenoid operator retracts the one address plate and projects the other. The movement of the address plates is such that one plate of each pair is projected into cooperating relation with the edge of the sheet-type item at all times, and latching means is provided for latching the address plates in their addressing positrons.

The selector may be used with eccentric magnets, as in the patent identified above, but is here shown as including a generally centrally located rotating magnet which engages and partially extracts from the store that item which is uniquely addressed by the address plates of the selector. An item retainer may optionally be placed at the down-running side of the rotating magnet to engage and hold a partially withdrawn item out of the store against involuntary return thereto.

The address plates of each pair are provided with opposed integral racks which may be molded into the material of the address plates which, by way of example only. may be of phenolic resin base with suitable admixtures, such as fiber glass and tefion fibers, and meshing with the opposed racks of each pair of address plates are pinions freely rotating of fixed axis, which ensure transfer of the movement of one plate of each pair to the other in the opposite direction. The forward surfaces of the address plates conform to the storage configuration of the items, in the present case they are of a circle, and engage with the forward edges of the items to restrain them in the store against withdrawal by the magnet of the selector.

Specifically, helical springs bias one address plate on each pair forwardly, and a solenoid operator acts on the same address plate to retract it against the spring bias. Obviously, the biasing means and solenoid operator could be connected to different plates in the pair since the pair are interconnected by their racks and pinions to always have simultaneous movement in opposite directions into addressing positions. In setting an address into the selector, the appropriate solenoids may be energized without effect and then the latching means released to effect simultaneous movement of the appropriate address plates by their springs and solenoids.

The selector is provided with an electric switch having an operator engaged by a withdrawn item whereby to stop relative movement between the sheets and the selector, as in the patent aforesaid, or the electric switch may control a slow down circuit to slow the travel of the items prior to reaching the delivery station.

With the address plates moving rectilinearly toward the sheet-type items, the locking means of the above-identified patent, to prevent forward movement of the sheets by false addressing is unnecessary, since any items which might attempt to move outwardly would be immediately returned to the store by the forward moving address plates.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the selector according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. I, with parts broken away and solenoid elements omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view showing the rack and pinion arrangement of the selector plates taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The physical embodiment of the selector of the present invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair of sideplates 1 1 and 12, a backplate 13 to which they are connected by studs 14, and an irregularly shaped top plate 15 connected to the sideplates by studs 16. Between the sideplates II and 12 are mounted paired address plates 17 and 18in spaced stacked relation, there being illustrated 12 pairs of plates, although it will be understood that their number is immaterial to the invention and will be determined by the coding system adopted. The sideplates II and 12 are provided with opposed, horizontally extending, vertically spaced notches 19, and the address plates 17, 18 are provided with opposite edge finger projections 21 and 22 received in the notches 19 to support and guide the address plate 17 and 18 for straight-line horizontal movement in the sideplates 11 and 12.

The opposed faces of the paired address plates 17 and 28 are provided with integral molded racks 23 and 24, as shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the racks being paced at oppositesides of the address plates, as shown in FIG. 3. Meshing with the cooperating paired racks 23, 24 are pinions 25 and 26 rigidly mounted on a shaft 27 which is journaled in bearings 28 mounted in the opposite sidewalls 11 and 12. There are a pair of pinions 25 and 26 and a shaft 27 for each pair of address plates 17, 18 in the selector, and the action of the pinions and racks is to interconnect the address plates 17, 18 of each pair for simultaneous reciprocation in opposite directions so that as one is projected, the other is retracted.

Movable plungers 31 are slidably disposed, in the notches 19 opposite each address plate 18 in back of the fingers 22. The plungers 31 have guide pins 32 rigidly extending rearwardly therefrom and about which are disposed spiral compression springs 33. The pins 32 pass through holes in, and the springs 33 are maintained by, backplates 34 mounted on the back edges of the sideplates 11 and 12, as by studs 35. The springs 33 act on the plungers 31, which, in turn, bear against the fingers 22 to bias the address plates 18 forwardly in the selector into the position shown in the drawings.

Mounted on the backplate 13 are solenoid actuators 36 having an armature 37 secured to an address plate 18, as by a stud 38. Each solenoid actuator 36 and its armature 37 therefore operates, when energized, to retract the address plate 18 to which it is secured rearwardly against the bias of the springs 33 into the position opposite to that shown in the drawings.

The selector of this invention may be used with any kind of store, but is shown with a cylindrical store 41, similar to that illustrated in the above-identified US. Pat. No. 3,429,436. To follow the circular contour of the store, the forward edges of the address plates 17, 18 are arcuate at 42 and 43. The forward side edges of the address plates are notched at 44 and 45 to leave fingers 46 and 47 thereat. Pivotally mounted adjacent the top and bottom of the sideplate 12, as by studs 48, is a lockbar 49 projectable into position between the fingers 46 and 47 to lock the address plates 17 and 18 in the positions in which they have been placed in addressing a sheet in the store. The lockbar 49 has an arm 51 extending therefrom to which is attached a reciprocable member 52 secured at its back end to the armature 53 of a solenoid actuator 54. A tension spring 55 connected between a stationary post 56 and arm 57 on the member 52 normally biases the locking bar 49 into the locking position shown in full lines in the drawings, form which it is adapted to be rotated to the unlocking, dotted line position of FIGS. 1 and 3 when the solenoid actuator 54 is energized.

A shaft 61 has reduced end portion 62 received in a complementary hole in the top plate of the selector. The lower portion of the shaft 61 is supported in a hole passing through a supporting plate 63 extending between, and mounted on the sideplates 11 and 12 adjacent their lower portions. The shaft 61 is held in the plate 63 by setscrew 64. The address plates 17 and 18 are provided with elongated slots 60 which receive and provide clearance for the shaft 61.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 61 is a magnet assembly 65 supported on the shaft on a snap ring 66. The magnet assembly comprises a wheelike structure having a central bearing 67 of molded teflon or the like, about which is disposed an annular permanent magnet 68 of Alnico, ceramic magnetic material or other permanent magnet, and having pressed thereon discs 69 and 71 of magnetic material having integral peripheral pole faces 72 and 73 between which the magnetic flux passes through the-magnet material on the edge of the sheet-type item. Such an item is shown at 75 in FIGS. 2 and 3 within the store 41 and having a U-shaped clip 76 at its edge which is formed of magnetic material and has coding notches 77 cut therein. Adjacent the central portion of the clip 76 is disposed a T-shaped notch 78 adapted to receive an extractor in the manner disclosed in the copending application previously identified, or the retainer shown herein, or both.

Upon the top plate 15 is mounted an electric switch 79 having an elongated operating arm 81 which acts as a sensor on the downstream side of the selector to be engaged by the edge of a partially withdrawn item to operate the switch 79 to indicate the withdrawal of an addressed sheet. As previously stated, this may deenergize the rotating store 41, as in US. Pat. No. 3,429,436, or may slow the rotation of the store for a subsequent stopping of the sheet at a delivery station.

An optional feature of the selector is a retainer 82 rigidly mounted by an arm 83 to the sideplate 11, the retainer 82 having a T-shaped cross section conforming to the T-shaped notch 78 and engaging in the notch as an addressed sheet is withdrawn from the store into the position of the sheet 84 of FIG. 3 to retain a withdrawn sheet against involuntary return to the store. As the sheet 84 continues to rotate in the store 41, it will leave the retainer 82 before the delivery position, so that the notch 78 may be engaged by an extractor for movement of the sheet at the delivery station in X-Y directions, as in US. Pat. No. 3,429,436.

As shown in FIG. 2, the selector of this invention may be mounted on a baseplate 58 which is supported on a table 59 which also supports the rotary store 41.

The selector is shown in the drawings with all of the address plates 18 projected into their forward positions by the springs 33 and with all of the address plates 17 thereby in retracted position. According to the coding system selected, the forward position of the address plates 18 may conform to either of the binary numbers 0 or I, and the reverse number be placed in each pair by projecting the address plate 17 forwardly. The forward projection of plate 17 is done by energizing the solenoid actuator 36 connected to the address plate 18 of the pair. Normally, all of the solenoid actuators which are to be energized for a particular sheet address are energized, but without movement of their associated address plates, since they are locked in position by the lockbar 49. After all of the desired solenoid actuators are energized, the solenoid 54 is momentarily energized, thereby rotating the lockbar 49 to unlatching position, releasing the address plates 17 and 18, and permitting the address plates 18 attached to the energized solenoid actuators 36 to be pulled rearwardly, thereby projecting the paired address plates 17 into forward position, due to the interaction of the racks 23, 24 with the pinions 25. 26. Should an address plate 18 be locked in retracted position and its solenoid actuator not be energized, it will, when unlocked, by move forwardly by its springs 33, thereby retracting the paired address plate 17.

After movement of the address plates, the solenoid 54 being deenergized, the lockbar 49 is returned to locking position by the bias of spring 55, and thereafter the solenoid actuators 36 may be deenergized without affecting the settings of the address plates which are locked in their address positions by the bar 49.

In the change of address of movement of the address plates, should any of the items 75 tend to move forwardly out of the store 41 under attraction of the magnet 65, the unaddressed sheets will be pushed back into the store by the edges 42, 43 of the address plates as they move into final addressing position.

Relative movement transversely of the items in the store 41 relative to the selector may be effected by moving either part, for example, by rotating the store 41, as in US. Pat. No. 3,429,436. As an item 75 approaches the magnet 65, its magnetic edge 76 will be attracted thereto and the magnet 65 will rotate therewith. However, unaddressed sheets will be prevented from leaving the store because of the engagement of the edge of the item with the forwardly projected surfaces 42 and 43 on the address plates 17, 18 which do not conform to the sheet notch coding at 77. For the addressed sheet, notches 77 will be disposed opposite the projected edges of the address plates, and as the item moves to the runoff side of the magnet 65, the item will move outwardly from the store by the limited distance provided therefor by the cooperating notches and address plates. Such a sheet is illustrated at 84 in FIG. 3, where it has moved out of the store and its central T- shaped notch 78 has been engaged by the T-shaped retainer 82. This sheet 84 is now in a position to give a downstream sensing of its withdrawal on the addressed sheet for whatever further action is programmed into the apparatus, as for example, is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,429,436.

As previously stated, the eccentric magnets of US. Pat. No. 3,429,436 may be used instead of the rotary magnet 65 to withdraw the sheet-type item from the store and the retainer 82 omitted from the selector structure.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A selector for edge notch coded sheet-type items mounted in a store, comprising:

a plurality of address plates mounted in parallel spaced relation and presenting edges transverse to the edges of the items;

means for mounting said address plates for rectilinear movement toward and away from the edges of the items so that the address plates moved toward the item edges encode an address for an item in the store;

magnetic means on said items;

magnet means associated with the selector and cooperating with the magnetic means on said items for partially withdrawing an addressed item from the store;

means for selectively moving said address plates to address a desired item in the store;

locking means engaged with said address plates for holding them against change in address position; and,

a solenoid actuator for releasing said locking means to permit movement of said address plates into a new address position.

2. The selector defined in claim 1, including:

means interconnecting said address plates in pairs for simultaneous movement in opposite directions toward and away from the edges of the items.

3. The selector defined in claim 2 in which said interconnecting means comprises:

opposed racks on said paired address plates; and

freely rotating pinions meshing with said racks, the axes of said pinions being fixed so that movement of one of the paired address plates in one direction effects movement of the other address plate of the pair in the opposite direction.

4. The selector defined in claim 2 including:

spring means for effecting movement of each pair of address plates in one relative direction; and

a solenoid actuator individual to each pair of plates for effecting movement of the pair of plates in the opposite relative direction.

5. The selector defined in claim 4 including:

locking means for holding said address plates in fixed position against movement; and

means for releasing said locking means for movement of the appropriate address plates by the spring means or solenoid actuator.

6. The selector defined in claim 5, including:

fingers adjacent the forward corners of said address plates;

and

said locking means comprising a bar projecting between forward and backward fingers to hold the address plates respectively in forward and backward positions.

7. The selector defined in claim 1, in which:

said magnet means comprises a rotating, substantially circular magnet having peripheral pole faces for attracting the magnetic means on the items in the store.

8. The selector defined in claim 1 including:

retainer means interlocking with a partially withdrawn item on the downstream side of the selector to maintain the item partially withdrawn from the store. 9. A selector for edge notch coded sheet-type items mounted in a store comprising:

a plurality of parallel space address plates presenting edges transverse to the edges of the item;

means interconnecting said address plates in pairs for simultaneously movement in opposite directions toward and away from the edges of said items so that the address plates toward the items establish an address for the notch coding of an item in the store;

means for establishing relative movement transversely of the items between the items and the selector; and

means for attracting the items in the store toward the selector; whereby to partially withdraw from the store the item addressed by the forward address plates.

10. The selector as defined in claim 9, in which said interconnecting means comprises:

opposed racks on said pairs of plates; and

fixed axes pinions meshing with said racks for effecting their opposite simultaneous movement.

11. A device for selecting one of a plurality of sheetlike items from a store, wherein each of said items is uniquely identified by notches cut into one edge, comprising a first plurality of plates mounted in parallel spaced relation with edges transverse to the edges of said items,

a second plurality of plates, equal in number to the first, mounted in parallel spaced relation and interleaved with said first plurality of plates,

\ a plurality of connecting means, each one of said means connecting one of said first plurality of plates to one of said second plurality of plates, to form plate pairs, each of said connecting means mounting one of said plate pairs for rectilinear movement by one of said plates toward the items and rectilinear movement by the other of said plates away from the items, and

means for selectively moving said plate pairs to select a desired item in the store.

12. The device in claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprise opposed racks on said pairs of plates, and

pinions meshing with said racks for effecting their opposite simultaneous movement.

13. The device of claim 1 1, further comprising means for attracting the items in the store toward said device to partially withdraw from the store the item selected by the plates.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said means for attracting the items comprises a magnet.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising locking means selectively engageable with said plates to hold them against a change in position.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising retainer means interlocking with a partially withdrawn item on the downstream side of the selector to maintain the item partially withdrawn from the store.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprises opposed racks on said pairs of plates, and,

pinions meshing with said racks for effecting their opposite simultaneous movement, and, further comprising magnet means for attracting the items in the store toward said device to partially withdraw from the store the item selected by the plates,

locking means selectively engageable with said plates to hold them against a change in position, and,

retainer means interlocking with a partially withdrawn item on the downstream side of the selector to maintain the item partially withdrawn from the store. 

1. A selector for edge notch coded sheet-type items mounted in a store, comprising: a plurality of address plates mounted in parallel spaced relation and presenting edges transverse to the edges of the items; means for mounting said address plates for rectilinear movement toward and away from the edges of the items so that the address plates moved toward the item edges encode an address for an item in the store; magnetic means on said items; magnet means associated with the selector and cooperating with the magnetic means on said items for partially withdrawing an addressed item from the store; means for selectively moving said address plates to address a desired item in the store; locking means engaged with said address plates for holding them against change in address position; and, a solenoid actuator for releasing said locking means to permit movement of said address plates into a new address posItion.
 2. The selector defined in claim 1, including: means interconnecting said address plates in pairs for simultaneous movement in opposite directions toward and away from the edges of the items.
 3. The selector defined in claim 2 in which said interconnecting means comprises: opposed racks on said paired address plates; and freely rotating pinions meshing with said racks, the axes of said pinions being fixed so that movement of one of the paired address plates in one direction effects movement of the other address plate of the pair in the opposite direction.
 4. The selector defined in claim 2 including: spring means for effecting movement of each pair of address plates in one relative direction; and a solenoid actuator individual to each pair of plates for effecting movement of the pair of plates in the opposite relative direction.
 5. The selector defined in claim 4 including: locking means for holding said address plates in fixed position against movement; and means for releasing said locking means for movement of the appropriate address plates by the spring means or solenoid actuator.
 6. The selector defined in claim 5 including: fingers adjacent the forward corners of said address plates; and said locking means comprising a bar projecting between forward and backward fingers to hold the address plates respectively in forward and backward positions.
 7. The selector defined in claim 1, in which: said magnet means comprises a rotating, substantially circular magnet having peripheral pole faces for attracting the magnetic means on the items in the store.
 8. The selector defined in claim 1 including: retainer means interlocking with a partially withdrawn item on the downstream side of the selector to maintain the item partially withdrawn from the store.
 9. A selector for edge notch coded sheet-type items mounted in a store comprising: a plurality of parallel spaced address plates presenting edges transverse to the edges of the item; means interconnecting said address plates in pairs for simultaneously movement in opposite directions toward and away from the edges of said items so that the address plates toward the items establish an address for the notch coding of an item in the store; means for establishing relative movement transversely of the items between the items and the selector; and means for attracting the items in the store toward the selector, whereby to partially withdraw from the store the item addressed by the forward address plates.
 10. The selector as defined in claim 9, in which said interconnecting means comprises: opposed racks on said pairs of plates; and fixed axes pinions meshing with said racks for effecting their opposite simultaneous movement.
 11. A device for selecting one of a plurality of sheetlike items from a store, wherein each of said items is uniquely identified by notches cut into one edge, comprising a first plurality of plates mounted in parallel spaced relation with edges transverse to the edges of said items, a second plurality of plates, equal in number to the first, mounted in parallel spaced relation and interleaved with said first plurality of plates, a plurality of connecting means, each one of said means connecting one of said first plurality of plates to one of said second plurality of plates, to form plate pairs, each of said connecting means mounting one of said plate pairs for rectilinear movement by one of said plates toward the items and rectilinear movement by the other of said plates away from the items, and, means for selectively moving said plate pairs to select a desired item in the store.
 12. The device in claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprise opposed racks on said pairs of plates, and, pinions meshing with said racks for effecting their opposite simultaneous movement.
 13. The device of claim 11, further comprising means for attracting the items in the store toward said device to partially withdraw from the store the item selected by the plates.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said means for attracting the items comprises a magnet.
 15. The device of claim 11, further comprising locking means selectively engageable with said plates to hold them against a change in position.
 16. The device of claim 11, further comprising retainer means interlocking with a partially withdrawn item on the downstream side of the selector to maintain the item partially withdrawn from the store.
 17. The device of claim 11, wherein said connecting means comprises opposed racks on said pairs of plates, and, pinions meshing with said racks for effecting their opposite simultaneous movement, and, further comprising magnet means for attracting the items in the store toward said device to partially withdraw from the store the item selected by the plates, locking means selectively engageable with said plates to hold them against a change in position, and, retainer means interlocking with a partially withdrawn item on the downstream side of the selector to maintain the item partially withdrawn from the store. 